Controversy surrounds paid petition circulators tied to a Republican firm gathering signatures for West’s ballot access.
A dozen paid operatives in Arizona have been registered to collect signatures for progressive presidential candidate Cornel West, with their employer listed as Wells Marketing LLC, a Republican-leaning firm that recently worked for GOP House candidate Blake Masters. These operatives, who are paid to gather support for West’s ballot access in Arizona, are required by the state to register with the secretary of state. However, some of the circulators were seen misspelling West’s name, including “Carnel West” and “Cornelle West.”
While West’s campaign has not disclosed who is funding the paid operatives, the involvement of a Republican-leaning firm has raised questions about the motivations behind this push. Wells Marketing did not respond to requests for comment.
Edwin DeJesus, a spokesperson for West’s campaign, denied any connection with Republican operatives. He described allegations of ties to GOP forces as a “smear,” arguing that the campaign is solely focused on championing the interests of workers. “We’re not hiring Republicans or Democrats,” DeJesus stated, emphasizing that the campaign stands with poor and working people. He dismissed claims of aiding Trump as false.
The controversy surrounding West’s campaign efforts in Arizona follows a similar situation in North Carolina, where Republican-affiliated operatives were discovered collecting signatures for West’s bid. This led to concerns within the North Carolina State Board of Elections, and last week, the Democratic majority voted against granting initial ballot access to West through a new political party he established.
These developments highlight the ongoing tension surrounding third-party candidates in key swing states, with critics questioning the influence of outside operatives and their potential impact on the election. As West’s campaign navigates these challenges, its connection to politically diverse operatives remains a focal point of scrutiny.
